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Home My WebLink AboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - PB 8-19-20 - 8-19-2020 - PRISON BOARD249 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA [MR LIMITED E1316@4191 R Minute No. PB 8-19-20 August 19, 2020 The meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held in the 7th floor conference room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members being present: Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan, Nick Sherman and Larry Maggi; Judge John DiSalle; Controller Mike Namie; and Sheriff Sam Romano; and District Attorney Gene Vittone. Also present: Deputy Wardens Donald Waugh and Christopher Cain; Solicitor Jana Grimm; Chief of Staff John Haynes; Finance Director Joshua Hatfield; Human Resources Director Shelli Arnold; Deputy Controller Cathy Sams; Chief Clerk Cindy Griffin; Administrative Assistant Joyce Thornburg; and Observer Reporter representative Barbara Miller. Mrs. Vaughan called the meeting to order at approximately 11:32 a.m. Mrs. Vaughan asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. PB 7-15-20, dated July 15, 2020, each member having received a copy. It was moved by Mr. Maggi and seconded by Mr. Sherman that Minute No. PB 7-15-20, be approved. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". PUBLIC COMMENTS None. WARDEN'S REPORT Income from Other Units for the Maintenance of Inmates for iuly, Administrative Fee $9,843.14 Social Security $1,200.00 Tylenol $58.28 Monthly sub -total $11,101.42 Year-to-date grand total $80,356.20 Program Fees and Room and Board Income for iuly Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Monthly sub -total Year-to-date grand total Status of Inmates Confined at the End of iuly Full-time Inmates Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Inmates Awaiting Trial and/or Sentencing Total Inmates Examinations Performed by the Physician New Commitments Repeat Patients Medical Transports Performed by the Sheriff Contracted Housing Fee/Month Year-to-date grand total Billed Collected N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A $31,296.00 $29,193.00 Male Female Total 22 8 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 Male Female Total 215 52 267 237 60 297 Male Female Total 38 20 58 6 52 15 $0.00 $0.00 Deputy Warden Waugh respectfully requested the Board to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Corrections for technical assistance related to the review of the physical construction of the facility and operational practices including population projection, staffing, staff training, programs and mental/behavioral health. This agreement is contingent upon Board of Commissioners approval in the public meeting to be held Thursday, August 20, 2020. Mrs. Vaughan stated that the Prison Board received a copy of the agreement to be reviewed prior to this approval. 250 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA ]MR LIMITED El316649LD Deputy Warden Waugh respectfully requested the Board to approve the hiring of Jamie Barton as a part-time correctional officer. It was moved by Mr. Romano and seconded by Mr. Namie approving the Warden's Report. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT PLAN (presented by Sheriff Romano) ➢ Present at the meeting: Sheriff Sam Romano; Chief Deputy Tony Andronas; Deputy Warden Donald Waugh; and Deputy Warden Christopher Cain. ➢ Members of the Sheriff's Office and WCCF met to discuss the current retirement of the Warden and operational plan for the jail. Sheriff Romano explained that the committee has been meeting a few times per week and that it is his opinion that the WCCF management team is doing a great job during the interim period. ➢ High points of discussion: staffing issues; mandating of employees for shifts (morale issues); sick time use; medical transports; pending discipline concerns; current policy efficiency; communication is key with Prison Board on matters; and local law enforcements "dislike" with jail facility. Sheriff Romano commented that mandatory overtime is a concern of the facility's staff. The committee is trying to develop ways to enhance the staffing issues. One suggestion may be to change the status of a few of the part-time correction officers to full-time. Sheriff Romano is open to any suggestions. ➢ Secondary points of discussion: hiring practices/recruitment; day-to-day operations rank structure; medical call outs/after hours; COVID policy still in effect; visitation for inmates -video only; current academy with 13 cadets; current full-time and part-time employees; and current rank structure (seven captains; one lieutenant; and six sergeants). Forced overtime is mandated based on seniority. When employees are mandated, the morale goes down. Deputy Warden Waugh explained that as a new class of officers graduates and moves to a position, they are the first employees automatically called up. For example, three months after graduation, an officer may be called upon 12 times, and, in many cases, these employees end up looking for employment elsewhere. They may resign within just a few months following graduation. ➢ Sheriff Romano requests: Deputy Wardens run the facility day-to-day; and report to the Sheriff/Chief Deputy regarding any major concerns/incidents. ➢ All parties agreed that a weekly report will be completed regarding incidents, and such report will be provided weekly to Sheriff Romano and to the prison board during its monthly meetings. ➢ All parties are receptive to having a Deputy Sheriff work in the jail facility in areas of the processing unit. ➢ All parties agreed to explore background check guidelines of new employees in accordance to sheriff office practices and there was discussion about using an aptitude test for screening. ➢ All parties discussed converting part-time positions to full-time positions in an attempt to retain employees. ➢ All parties agreed to operate during this time as a TEAM. Judge DiSalle questioned the part-time status. Deputy Warden Waugh commented that the part- time employees are informed that the position is part-time but that the promotion to a full-time positions will come from the part-time pool. The morale of the older staff is suffering because they have also been mandated with forced overtime. This creates a problem with retention. It is typical to graduate 10 officers, and the facility could end up retaining only three. Mrs. Vaughan asked if the part of the problem was that the part-time officers may have other part-time jobs. Deputy Warden Waugh responded that, in most cases, this is the officer's primary job, and most have the hope that it leads to a full-time position. Mrs. Vaughan suggested Sheriff Romano, Deputy Warden Waugh, Shelli Arnold and John Haynes 251 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IMR LIMITED E111664gl n have a meeting to come up with recommendations and present these recommendations in the next Prison Board meeting. Sheriff. Romano and Mrs. Vaughan both stated that the recommendations from Deputy Warden have been excellent and that it has given the Board a better insight of the day-to-day operations of the facility. Sheriff Romano also has discussed, with Chief of Staff John Haynes, the issue of medical transports. A tremendous help for the Sheriffs office would be if these transports could be outsourced. Mrs. Vaughan commented that Washington Health System is the WCCF's medical provider and the health system just acquired Ambulance and Chair Service. She stated that perhaps there is something that could be worked out for a reduced rate of transportation. Mr. Haynes stated that this is still something he is researching. Mrs. Vaughan stated the facility has had no positive COVID-19 cases. Deputy Warden Waugh stated that certain visitors are permitted visitation through the glass, and 95% of visitation is through video. BILLS Mr. Namie presented to the Board for their consideration and approval of the bills dated August 19, 2020, in the amount of $155,068.22. It was moved by Mr. Namie and seconded by Mr. Romano approving the bills dated August 19, 2020. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". (See list of bills attached hereto and made a part hereof.) OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS None. Chief of Staff John Haynes called an executive session at 11:42 a.m. to discuss personnel. Mrs. Vaughan reconvened the meeting at approximately 11:57 a.m. There being no further business, Mrs. Vaughan declared the meeting adjourned at approximately 11:57 a.m. THE FOREGOING MINUTES SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: 2020 ATTEST:?' SECRETARY 252 PRISON BOARD [MR LIMITED E1316649LD MINUTE BOOK WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA This page is blank. I